The upcoming 2025 holiday season, spanning from Christmas Eve to New Year’s Day, is set to witness a massive exodus from US airports with a staggering 32.5 million seats scheduled for departure, marking a 2.4% increase from the previous year. This translates to over three million departures daily. According to insights from travel experts at Hopper, while some days will be busier than others, the entire festive period is expected to see high passenger volumes. For those looking to avoid the crowds, it is advisable to consider traveling on Christmas Eve, Christmas Day, New Year’s Eve, or New Year’s Day, as these days typically have fewer flights and hence less airport congestion.

Based on TSA throughput data from recent years, it has been noted that Christmas Day stands out as the optimal day to fly during the holiday season, emerging as one of the least busy travel days, with nearly 400,000 fewer TSA passes compared to the average. Christmas Eve also presents a favorable option for those seeking a quieter travel experience, as passenger traffic tends to be notably lower. However, Hopper cautions that last-minute airfare prices have seen a recent uptick, with a 10% increase in the past five weeks.

Similarly, the New Year period tends to be less hectic for travel, with New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day typically experiencing lower passenger volumes. Conversely, January 2 tends to see a surge in travel activity, making it a day to steer clear of when planning your journey.

To avoid the peak travel days, it is advisable to steer clear of the week leading up to Christmas day, especially as it has historically been marked by high passenger traffic. Looking ahead, industry sources predict that Friday, December 20, will likely be the busiest travel day, with the weekend preceding Christmas anticipated to be bustling across US airports. For a more relaxed travel experience, statistics suggest flying at least 10 days prior to Christmas Day could offer a quieter journey.

When planning return trips around the New Year, New Year’s Eve emerges as a favorable day for travel, witnessing lower screening numbers over the past three years. Conversely, it is best to avoid January 2, as it typically sees a surge in traffic. By January 4, airport traffic tends to normalize, making it a strategic time to plan your return journey.